The Osceola times., 1887-07-23
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT.
WOMEN AT WORK.
,v,at American Women Are Doing To-
cards Earning Their Own Livingstone
,,are.tIue Facts and FiRureA

ue condcnse the following:
The census of 1880 gives the numbel
# women and girls working at gain
mi occupation" as 2,647,157. d
these women 534. 900 are agricultural
laborers, 526, s34 being employed in
the old slave States, working in cotton
and rice fields; and on corn, tobacco,
rice and cane plantations These agri-
cultural laborers in the South are all
colored women, and besides them there
are 62,64S colorcd women working
in cotton factories, sorghum mills, to-
bacco curing, and manufacturing es-
adjustments and in all stores, ware.
houses and yards in the South where
heavy manual labor is needed.
To the American, a glance at these
dusky thousands suggests many
thoughts and many hard problem.
In the North there are 5, O66 women
employed as agricultural laborers
working in fields AMI gardens at
farming. beekeeping, dairy work.
fruit and berry raising, and vineyards
and hopyards.
There are 108. 1873 laundresses, and
Is before stated, 93S. $40 domestic serv-
ants. The cotton. silk and WOODEN
mills employ 1852, 1863 women. Boot
and shoe factories, 2l,007. Clerks,
saleswomen and accountants in stores
number 3S,S3i. Dressmakers and
milliners are given rs numbering S34.-
028. Under this head doubtless many
plain sewing women are counted.
In great many branches of manu-
featuring women are employed in
large numbers. Thousands work in
establishments for making agricultural
implements; in book binderies and
printing offices. Thousands work for
earpet-makers, cigar-makcrs. clock
and watch-makers, confectioners COR
set makers, glove-makers, gold and
silver workers, harness and saddle
makers, hat and cap makers, straw
workers, and so on in all the trades
and occupations.
Women are at work by thousands as
book-keepers and accountants, and as
operators in telegraph and telephone
Offices Women are acting as COM
mercial travellers, and as book agents
as commercial brokers, bankers, rail-
way officials and employees, packers
manufacturers and officials of manu-
featuring companies. There are a.
%65 commercial dealers and traders,
1894 nurses, $4,000 clearinghouse
keepers, and 2,l36 hotel-keepers.
Women are architects, chemists, assay
srs, dentists, designers, draughtsmen,
sngravers and inventors. One thou
sand six hundred and fifteen are en-
ployers of charitable institutions, 2SS
are professional journalists, 320 are
authors, 2.06l are artists and teachers
Of art 1920 are actresses. and IS. 1872
are professional musicians or teachers
of music, s, 1874 are Government clerks,
and 2,17l are officers of the Govern
ment There are 9, 432 women physi-
oiaAs and surgeons rs lawyers, aud
l65 ministers of religion, 2l6 stock
rAisers. and Sc, 800 free and independ-
ent farmers and planters
There are 154, 375 women teachers,
5000 more women being engaged in
teaching than men.
1t il useless to continue the catalogue
OF trades, manufactures, industries and
professions in which women are find
ing . means of livelihood. The gates
are wide open, and any work that any
individual woman thinks herself capa-
BILE OF, she is at liberty to try and
prove a success or failure at it. even
as men are trying themselves contin-
ually, and thus proving their power or
limitations.
This great change in the outlook and
opportunities of women has not been
accomplished without great difficulty.
The young woman who goes out in the
world to earn her living now, meets
few Of the trials and disc0uragements
that hindered every step Of the weman
on a similar errand in times within the
memory Of many people living, and
not yet old.
The women who first went to work
in the United States Treasury Depart
ment as clerks. walked every morning
and afternoon through crowd Of jeer-
ing laughcrs, who collected at the
doors Of the treasury building TO see
them come and 60 to and from their
work.
In Boston when women were first
introduced into printing offices as
type-sctters, the printers formed an as
socistion, Of which one of the rules
WAS that no member should work In
any establishment where women were
employed.
There are thousands Of unskilled
hands and unframed minds, SO many,
thata really competent man or woman
is of great value in any place he or she
is fitted for.
No time nor opportunity should be
lost for saving TO young women, as
well as young men, learn some one
thing to do, and do it well. Make
yourself indispensable somewhere. and
just or at least reasonably fair, com
Pensstion is sure to be yours.
The pecuniary Independence OF
women, however moderate might b
their earnings, If assured to all. would
help to settle some of the very gravess
prohlems of aocial life Al niesent.